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David Giles:  GB001. A control line enthusiast since the age of 10yrs, but always drawn to tether cars. Ran his own designed and built 2.5cc twinshaft car on the track at Mote Park in Kent shortly before its demise in the mid 1960s.

Became involved in tether cars whilst working in Germany in the late 1970s. Rekindled the interest in competition some 20 years later.

Stuart Robinson:  GB002. Has been a tethered car and tethered hydroplane enthusiast for more years than most of us care to remember.

He has held innumerable records in the tethered hydroplane field and has given many years of loyal service in various capacities to the hobby of model boat competition, both domestically and internationally.

Roger James – Technical Secretary:  GB003. A lifelong model builder, with model aeroplanes, steam locomotives and very competitive tethered hydroplanes to his credit (Roger was at that time 10cc World Champion).

He also holds British tethered hydroplane records and is a respected tuner of model engines with an enviable track record, particularly in control line combat and team racing. Roger is an engineer of broad experience, thus making him an ideal person for the role of Tech. Sec.

The original three members were soon joined by Heather Robinson GB004 and June Heath GB006, both running what were then Class E5, open wheel ex Monza cars. These were fast evolving from a ‘beginners’ class into a very competitive racing category, but with rules that constrained the style of car.

The WMCR adopted the 3.5cc Class in 2001 with David, Stuart, June and Heather all running 3.5cc open wheel cars. The following year FEMA renamed their classes with these cars becoming E3 and the 10cc cars E5.

Right: Heather Robinson's, Stelling based Monza car

As a direct result of the material David published, Hugh and Lynn Blowers made the trip to the 2004 European Championships in Basel as interested spectators and as it turned out, the only British visitors.

The membership was expanding further with long-term hydro competitor Steve Turley GB008, competing with 5cc cars, which he continues to run and Dave Cunliffe GB009 with a 10cc car. The 2005 European Championships in Lyon saw the largest British contingent since the late 1950s, again with Hugh and Lynn Blowers spectating, which was the catalyst for the setting up of OTW.

Left: David Giles assisting Dave Cunliffe while Steve Turley looks on

The lack of a track in the UK and the necessity to travel into Europe to run means that British participation will always be limited, yet the British team grew further at Lyon in 2008 with another ex hydro competitor, Oliver Monk GB010 joining, initially in the 10cc class with Roger James’s Denneler based car.

Oliver is a really enthusiastic competitor as well as a prodigious builder and promoter of the sport, recently taking over as FEMA point of contact from David Giles and technical Secretary from Roger James, both now retired from active competition. In addition, Oliver was voted in as FEMA Technical Secretary in 2015, a real fillip for the BTCA.

Oliver was directly responsible for persuading Hugh Blowers GB011 to split his time between hydro lakes and the track, initially with an aged 1.5cc car. It was down to Oliver’s enthusiasm and help that Hugh and Oliver, accompanied by Lynn and Debbie were the first from Britain to compete at a World Championships since 2004.

Oliver's son Aaron GB012 was the next to join, specialising in the 1.5cc class and has achieved a landmark for a British competitor in winning the 2014 Grand Slam in that class and a trip to compete in Australia. For this trip Oliver and the most recent member Debbie Monk GB014 who has been running a new car run in the 1.5cc class joined Aaron to race at the Brisbane and Sydney International meetings.

Left: Debbie, Oliver and Hugh, Basel 2013